Out Of International Tragedy Comes ‘Cornerstone’ The New Album From Hillsong LIVE

Hillsong LIVE is the expression of worship from the globally influential Hillsong Church. This year Hillsong LIVE returns with their latest church resource, ‘Cornerstone,’ which will release on Sparrow Records on 3rd July 2012. This album will mark the 21st LIVE release from Hillsong. This local church creative team has a commitment to continually resource the Body of Christ with fresh songs of worship and a deep passion to see people connect with the Living God in a real and personal way.

‘Cornerstone’ was recorded in Sydney, Australia last fall with tens of thousands in worship at filled-to-capacity Allphones Arena. It captures the heart and sound of Hillsong Church globally representing the coming together of the Hillsong worship teams from around the world including Reuben Morgan, Joel Houston, Ben Fielding, Darlene Zschech and the international teams from London, Stockholm and Cape Town. This album offers fresh, new songs to congregations worldwide with a simple desire to place emphasis on Jesus and a prayer that people everywhere will be encouraged to find hope in Christ, the Cornerstone.

This new resource is filled with songs such as the title track, a new anthem ‘Beneath The Waters (I Will Rise),’ an upbeat praise song, ‘Running’ as well as the debut radio single ‘Hope Of The World’. ‘Cornerstone’ showcases 11 brand new songs written by Reuben Morgan, Hillsong UNITED, Brooke Fraser and others. It will be available for sale as a CD, DVD and a Physical Deluxe version that contains both the CD and DVD in one special package.

The idea behind ‘Cornerstone’ was birthed out of an international tragedy last summer in Norway when more than 70 innocent victims, many children, were killed. Hillsong’s worship leader Reuben Morgan shares his response to this frightening shooting as he was visiting the Scandinavian Peninsula.

“When you write songs that people sing as part of their worship to God there is a bit of your soul that shares the aches of those around you. When there is tragedy, the song of lament wakes up with you, and when there is joy, the sound of praise fills your ears. To some it might seem really odd to reach for a guitar when tears are falling on scuffed up shoes, but I really don’t know any other way of being.”

While ‘Cornerstone’ may have been inspired at that moment, Morgan says the message is even bigger, posing a question for every citizen of the world to answer: Who or what do we turn towards for our strength? This album, like all of Hillsong’s projects, is more than a group of songs, it is a profound message that builds faith, stirs the soul and asks and answers the big questions.

“We only just have the time to forget the face of the gunman when another chorus of sirens wail,” explains Morgan. “We have barely cleaned up after the flood when an earthquake strikes. When the earth shakes, we look to our feet and wonder what it is that we are standing on.”Hillsong LIVE will be coming back to the U.S. to tour ‘Cornerstone’ beginning in the fall. Details and tour dates to be announced at a later date.